N. 0. ONAGRACEÆ.
517. Jussiœa suffruticosa, Linn, h.f.b.l, ii. 587.
Syn. : — J. exaltata, Roxb. 371.
Vern. ' -- Lal-bunianga (B.) ; Neeroo-agheen-drapakao (Tel.) ; Carambu (Mal.) ; Pânalavanga (Bomb.) ; Petra da, dak ichak (Santal). Pârsâti (Chutia Nagpur).
Habitat : — Throughout the greater part of India, except the Western desert region.
A semi-shrubby perennial, erect, 2-4ft., sometimes 4-6ft., much branching, woody below. Branches stiff, erect, cylindric, striate, thickly clothed with short spreading hair. Leaves 2-4 by ¾in., nearly sessile, varying from linear to broadly oval, but usually lanceolate, entire, tapering to base, acute, hairy on both sides. Lateral veins numerous, prominent beneath. Flowers bright chrome-yellow, 1½-l¾in. pedicels, shorter than Calyx- tube, with two lanceolate bracts at summit. Calyx hairy ; tube quadrangular ; segments four, ovate, alternate, acute, larger than the tube. Petals 4,¼-⅜in., wholly yellow, rotundate, shortly-clawed, often emarginate, ninnately veined. Stamens 8, erect. Filaments very short; style very short; stigma large, quadrate-pyramidal. Capsule about lin., quadrangular truncate, tapering down-wards, hairy, 8-ribbed, thin. Seeds minuate, ovoid, brown, polished. Raphe prominent.
Uses:—The plant reduced to a pulp and steeped in butter-milk, is considered useful in dysentery; a decoction is used as a vermifuge and purgative (Ainslie).
In Jaspur, the root is boiled and the liquid is drunk for fever (J. J. Wood's Plants of Chutta Nagpur, p. 105).
518. Trapa bispinosa, Roxb : h.f.b.i., ii. 590, Roxb, 144.
Sans.:—Sringataka.
Vern:-Singhára H.); Paniphal (B.); Párigadda (Tel.); Karim pola (Mal.); Shingoda, Singodi (Guz.); Shingâdâ (Mar.); Shingári (Dec.); Shingárá (Tam.)
Habitat:—Throughout India.
A floating herb much cultivated in fresh water tanks or ponds for its delicious fruit. The roots are typically hairy, long, fine and trailing. In the Roxburghian type, says C. B. Clarke, floating leaves 2 by 2½-3in., very villous beneath, posterior margin entire, anterior lightly crenate; petiole 4-6in., woolly. Fruit 1-1½in.. long and broad, glabrous or hairy but slightly; two opposite angles, each with an often retrorsely scabrous spine, the other two angles obsolete.
Use:-The nuts are farinacious, and used as food; considered by natives cool and sweet, useful in bilious affections and diarrhœa. The nuts are also used in the form of poultices (Punjab Products). See K. R. Kirtikar's paper in Vol. I (Bombay N. H. Society).
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